Dancing's Maks: I Don't Know If I'll Be Back Next Season

I've been relaxing since our elimination. It's bittersweet that we're out, but I have to say, it's nice not to have to go to rehearsals! Kirstie had some commitments here in L.A., so we couldn't go to New York with Gilles and Peta, so I've just been relaxing. I would've loved to have stayed and tried to defy the odds and take everyone down, but I'm OK with the fact that we left when we left. It was getting really hard for Kirstie. Just watching the amount of work that Val and Kelly had for this week is crazy. It was 1 minute and 40 seconds each for two dances, and one was a Michael Jackson tribute, so that was a big deal. The other was the latest insane dance from the producers, so that was even tougher. Good luck to the remaining couples and whoever makes the final. I really think Kirstie would've lost her mind this week. She pushed herself so hard these eight weeks.

That being said, we were hoping for the best when we were standing up there. We weren't nervous, but we're realistic. Let's be honest, everybody remaining is a better dancer. People might read this in a different way, but I'm not saying anything that's not true. Are they better entertainers or better personalities than Kirstie? I say no. But are they better dancers? Yes. With Kirstie's fan support, I don't think we would've left if that's not true. I think it was a mix of things that led to our elimination. Yes, it was probably our time, given who we were up against, but I think the combined two-week scores and the double elimination hurt us. We were 20 points behind and maybe we weren't even the lowest couple with the votes combined! We could've been sixth and safe if it had been only a single elimination. I was disappointed to be put up against Val and Kelly, because there will never be anything that will get between us. If he wins, it'll be my trophy. If I had won, it would've been his. Maybe it's a weird concept. I meet people who have brothers and they're like, "We fight all the time." I'm like, "We never fight." I love him more than anything on this planet.

I was very surprised Gilles and Peta left. I thought he's ones of the best male dancers we've ever had on the show. He did some great performances. I don't know what happened. Maybe his fans thought he was safe. Who knows? But we're also at the point in the season where everyone who leaves is going to be a "shock." Someone has to go and it's going to be someone good. I don't think you can predict who will go next. Everybody's so good. At the beginning, you could probably go, Kirstie and Maks, and Pamela and Tristan. At this point, I have no idea. I think the only thing we can all agree on is that Shawn is the favorite.

I don't think Shawn's tribal dance hurt her at all. If anything, it probably got her fans upset after Len's comments and they'll be even more determined to vote this week and next week if she makes it. What Derek did was great. There is no denying that he is a talented kid and that he puts out great performances. I do, however, fail to understand what it is that we're supposed to be doing. If somebody said to me seven years ago, "We'd like you to join Dancing with the Stars. You're going to teach a celebrity how to dance. It's going to be mainly ballroom with jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and modern dances" — I would've probably said no. I've spent my entire dance career focusing on a particular set of skills: ballroom skills. There was an incredible ballet number on the show a few weeks ago. It was gorgeous. Those people are principal ballet dancers. They cannot do ballroom. Does that make them bad dancers? Absolutely not. They're the best what they do. I'm good at ballroom. I'm not good at XYZ.

Honestly, I'm not sure why producers feel they need to throw in these new and non-ballroom dance styles. I really do believe that fans want to see good ballroom dancing and it's hard to do so when the pros don't even know the dance styles. If it's not broken, why fix it? I loved Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but it's the same thing every episode. It's a different family and a different house, but every episode, they just rebuilt houses, but I loved watching it. Take American Idol. Every week, they sing, America votes, and then someone wins. They have theme weeks, but they never ask them to do backflips while you're singing or something. What is a "Caveman" hustle? What's a "Surfer" flamenco? Who came up with that? It was amazing that Tom called them out. I couldn't understand it. I was like, "Thank god we got eliminated!"

This season was in the middle of the election, which I think is fitting. This show has become so much more about politics. It's about how much media coverage each couple has and now we have paparazzi camping out of the studio, which is ridiculous. Some people put on a face for them. I think people know by now that I'm not going to be fake. I'm being called out left and right on Twitter: How come you don't talk to your fans? That's not true. I walk in the street and if someone comes up to me, I talk. I will always interact. I miss the old days when it was just about dancing and then fans voted. I'm trying to figure out what our job is. That's why I love sports. When I competed, I never cared what people thought. If I cross the line first, you can't dispute that. When the show started, it was the same. When I lost, I thought it was my fault. Like when I lost with Mel B, I thought it was because people didn't like me. But I'm OK with that.

We will be back for the finale. After that, I will go home. I cannot wait to get back home. I just want to help my friends and Sandy victims any way I can. When you're there, it's easier to understand and to grasp the whole situation and to help. I got an email from Red Cross thanking me. I'm not trying to pat myself on the back or anything, but it was a personal thank you and I didn't even work with Red Cross. I worked with private people. They thanked me for what I was doing. I'm so grateful for that. I didn't do it for publicity. I'm doing it because I know that if I send a sweater and a toothbrush, someone who needs them will get it. The immediate plan is to go back, put on gloves and get to work. There are still so many people without power and worst of all, homes. I know a lot of people in Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn. There are a lot of rich Russian immigrants there. They lost their $2 million homes and it's tragic. But those people will be OK. It's a devastating blow, but there are people who lost everything who don't have anything else. It's crazy how life can change in an instant. I am a big fan of Manhattan and I understand the importance of Manhattan. It's almost the center of Earth. I'm OK with that being the priority initially, but it's the people in the surrounding areas outside of Manhattan who are majority, and the majority needs more help. In the society we live in and it's a funny concept. When you're not famous, you have to pay for stuff. But when you get to Hollywood and become famous, you get flooded with free stuff. It's crazy. I can't even tell you how much free stuff I'm given, and I'm just on a reality show! There are gifting suites for every event. I understand it's promotional. I'm not against it, but it's funny to me. Our society is backwards. The free stuff needs to go to people who need it.

I can only use what I have to make a difference. Maybe Val and I will start a grassroots organization. I don't know yet. I've had people I've met but don't really know — acquaintances, I guess you can say — the past few weeks ask me, "Maks, how are your friends and family? I would love to help. Let me know what I can do." I say, "Yes, you can make a donation." I and many, many others have donated by buying blankets, socks, shoes and garbage bags, etc. You have no idea how many celebrities have helped out. Dealing with Sandy, I found out that there are movements and movements of people sending a lot of stuff however they can get there without much fanfare. Kirstie is one of many who's fortunate enough to have made it who has enough of spare and she gives back all the time without publicity. The only reason we made this public was because John Travolta told her to draw attention to it so others come to donate. I'm so thankful for Kirstie. This has been my favorite pastime. The outlook it gives you is amazing.

I have not made a decision about next season yet. To be honest, I have many offers and I might need a break.